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LeBron James: Kawhi Leonard’s “Load Management” a double standard?

By Ronald Agers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers controls possession of the ball in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers late in the fourth quarter in a 112-102 Clipper win during the LA Clippers season home opener at Staples Center on October 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers controls possession of the ball in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers late in the fourth quarter in a 112-102 Clipper win during the LA Clippers season home opener at Staples Center on October 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Actually the resting stars on nationally televised games started in Cleveland with (Sorry LeBron stans!) LeBron James.

Sure, Gregg Popovich started all of this resting players trend years ago. But let’s be truthful here. Are they must-see TV? Would you rush to get home to watch them on TV or a LeBron James led team? Okay, let’s move on. If you think about it, the six degrees of separation is really funny if you think about it.

Remember back in 2017, when Cleveland Cavaliers head coach (Now Clippers Asst. Coach!) Tyronn Lue sat down his “big three” of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in a nationally televised Saturday matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on ABC?

Guess who was the Clippers coach? Doc Rivers. But get a load of the replacements for the game.

Since the Cavaliers were already 0-4 going into the game, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion on how the game turned out (If you said the Cavs got blown back to Cleveland. Two points for you!).

Now back then, Adam Silver’s statement to USA Today was a foreshadowing of what the NBA is dealing with these days.

"“I’m sympathetic to fans who turn out — whether they buy tickets to games or watching games on television and don’t see their favorite player on the floor,” “I would say my personal view is I would rather not engage in discussions with coaches and GMs on playing time,” Silver said previously. “I think that’s a core responsibility of the team and I think it’s a very slippery slope for the league office to start getting in the business of telling a coach or team what minutes a player should play.”"

The era of the NBA has changed since Adam Silver took over for David Stern. The San Antonio Spurs were fined $250,000 back in 2012 for not only holding out its stars but sending them home without league approval.

But in this player empowerment era that Adam Silver endorses, he is constantly looking for the balance of keeping a quality product on the hardwood while protecting the players.

"“We also have to be realistic that the science has gotten to the point where there is that direct correlation that we’re aware of between fatigue and injuries. And as tough as it is on our fans to miss one of their favorite players for a game, it’s far better than having them get injured and be out for long periods of time. So we’re always still looking to strike that right balance.”"

Well after the Kawhi Leonard situation last week, the NBA has not found it yet.

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